Pfizer has recently reported promising results from a Phase 3 study of their pneumonia vaccine candidate, Prevnar 13.

The study, which involved nearly 600 adults aged 65 and older across 19 countries, showed that the vaccine was highly effective in preventing pneumococcal pneumonia.

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can be caused by various types of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. Symptoms can include fever, cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.

In severe cases, pneumonia can be life-threatening, particularly in older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Prevnar 13 Vaccine

Prevnar 13 is a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that was first approved by the FDA in 2010. It is currently indicated for use in infants, young children, and adults aged 18 and older who are at increased risk of pneumococcal disease.

The vaccine contains 13 different strains of the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium, which is the most common cause of pneumonia.

Study Results

The Phase 3 study involved 597 adults aged 65 and older who had not previously received any pneumococcal vaccine. Participants were vaccinated with either Prevnar 13 or a placebo and were monitored for up to 4 years.

The study showed that Prevnar 13 was highly effective in preventing the first episode of vaccine-type pneumococcal pneumonia, with an efficacy rate of 75%. The vaccine was also shown to be highly effective in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease, with an efficacy rate of 45%.

Implications

The results of this Phase 3 study are promising for the prevention of pneumonia in older adults. According to the CDC, pneumococcal disease is responsible for up to 400,000 hospitalizations and 18,000 deaths each year in the United States.

The Prevnar 13 vaccine is already approved for use in adults aged 18 and older, but if it is approved for use in older adults, it could have a significant impact on the prevention of pneumococcal disease.

Next Steps

The next step for Pfizer is to submit the data from this Phase 3 study to regulatory authorities for review. If approved, Prevnar 13 could become the first vaccine to be approved for use in preventing pneumococcal disease in adults aged 65 and older.

Conclusion

The results of this Phase 3 study of the Prevnar 13 vaccine are highly promising for the prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia in older adults.

If approved for use in this population, the vaccine could have a significant impact on reducing hospitalizations and deaths due to pneumococcal disease. Pfizer is continuing to work towards regulatory approval of the vaccine for use in older adults.